--C Miguel Montero has drawn significant interest in offseason trade talks and appears to be the D-backs' most marketable trade piece as they look to fill a hole at second base, which could be done via trade or free agency. "That's a pretty popular name," one major league source said of Montero, who had 16 doubles and five home runs while hitting .255 in 184 at-bats in 2009 behind starting C Chris Snyder.
--The D-backs have received some inquiries about OF Eric Byrnes, who has two years and $22 million remaining on his contract, but in all probability, Arizona would have to absorb another significant contract to make any deal work. The D-backs are unlikely to swap large contracts, however, believing that they would not acquire a player of Byrnes' value after seeing Byrnes produce consecutive seasons of 20 home runs and 25 stolen bases in 2006-07 before hamstring issues limited him last year. --Third base coach Chip Hale, one of seven candidates in the Seattle managerial search, interviewed with the Mariners' new general manager, Jack Zduriencik, on Nov. 11. Hale has been the D-backs' third base and infield coach for two seasons after a highly successful run as a manager in the Arizona system, leading Tucson to the Class AAA championship in 2006 while setting a franchise record with 93 victories.
--LHP Randy Johnson became the seventh and final D-back to file for free agency. He did so Nov. 13 after the sides failed to reach a deal on the final day of the D-backs' exclusive negotiating window. 1B Tony Clark, RHP Juan Cruz, OF Adam Dunn, 2B/SS David Eckstein, 2B Orlando Hudson and RHP Brandon Lyon filed earlier.
--RHP Brandon Webb finished second to Giants' RHP Tim Lincecum in the NL Cy Young Award voting, extending his streak of top-two finishes to three. Webb won the award in 2006 and has been second the last two years. It is the best streak in the NL since LHP Randy Johnson won four in a row from 1999-2002. Webb tied with Cleveland LHP Cliff Lee, the AL Cy Young winner, for the major league high with 22 victories.
BY THE NUMBERS: 9 -- Games in which RHP Brandon Webb pitched at least eight innings, the most among the NL Cy Young Award candidates.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "While I am disappointed that I did not win, I am excited that I was able to win 22 games and be considered for this great honor again. Congratulations to Tim. He is a great pitcher." -- RHP Brandon Webb, on his runner-up finish in the 2008 NL Cy Young Award voting.
